This week, we look at The Wall Street Journal where ADF Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco writes how a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is good for all Americans. While the 8th Circuit stood up for religious liberty, the Democratic National Committee looked on it with scorn. Plus, a look at an important amicus brief to the Supreme Court and an in-depth discussion on why politicians can’t play fast and loose with facts when it comes to abortion. All of this from the Alliance Alert team.

ADF in the News

Writing at The Wall Street Journal, Jeremy Tedesco at Alliance Defending Freedom celebrated the recent court victory upholding the free speech principles that protect all Americans. Tedesco, who serves as ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Administration, successfully argued on behalf of Christian filmmakers Carl and Angel Larsen—owners of Telescope Media Group—at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. The Larsens work with all people; they just don’t create films promoting all messages. Yet, according to Minnesota officials, a state law mandates that if the Larsens create films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman, they must also create films promoting views about marriage that violate their beliefs, including films promoting same-sex marriages. In turning back the state’s assertion, Tedesco writes, the court not only delivered a key victory for the freedom of all Americans, but could set the stage for an even bigger free speech win at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Religious Freedom

The Democratic National Committee recently passed a resolution that condemns religious liberty and favors the "religiously unaffiliated." Part of the resolution reads: "those most loudly claiming that morals, values, and patriotism must be defined by their particular religious views have used those religious views, with misplaced claims of 'religious liberty,' to justify public policy that has threatened the civil rights and liberties of many Americans, including but not limited to the LGBT community, women, and ethnic and religious/nonreligious minorities..." This hostile resolution comes at a time when religious Americans, including ADF clients Jack Phillips, Barronelle Stutzman, Blaine Adamson, and Steve Tennes have had to spend years in and out of court defending their constitutionally protected freedom to live according to their faith.

Marriage and the Family

With oral arguments in R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes a little more than a month away, one amicus brief stands out in particular, writes Nicole Russell at The Federalist. A brief filed by nine people who formerly identified as transgender outlines the drastic consequences of attempting to live as the opposite sex—especially in comparison to the option of seeking therapy to overcome feelings of confusion. The brief describes how its authors were fed lies by doctors, therapists, and activists, leading to ever-deepening emotional trauma. In the end, each benefited from therapy that led them to accept their biological sex. Now, all nine are urging others to do the same.

Sanctity of Life

During a town hall session at College of Charleston, presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke voiced his support for abortion up until birth, citing outdated and inaccurate data to back his false claim that Texas abortion regulations increased maternal mortality. As Michael J. New points out at National Review, the data O’Rourke cites about infant mortality rates in Texas was inaccurate when it first came out and has since been corrected. Nevertheless, O'Rourke stands with Democrats like those in New York and Virginia who support abortion up to birth. While O’Rourke is entitled to his own opinion, New quips, he is not entitled to his own facts.

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